For the past three years, we’ve been writing about the possibility of receiving 100 or so digital radio channels in our cars. The idea here is to use state-of-the-art studios to upload a tremendous quantity of program material to satellites. The satellites then beam their digital transmissions down to special car stereo receivers and to helper sites. Since the frequency is in the 2+ GHz range, the helper sites are necessary - especially in large metropolitan areas. XM Satellite Radio (www.xmradio.com) and Sirius Radio (www.siriusradio.com) are the two major players in the satellite game.

iBiquity Digital (www.ibiquity.com) has a different idea for getting digital quality signals into our mobile listening environment. Their concept simulcasts regular AM and FM programming in a digital mode. So, 91.7 MHz on the FM dial becomes 91.7 on the digital radio dial. The difference is that the FM digital will be CD quality and AM digital will be as good as regular analog FM.

When Will It Begin?
The good news for satellite radio is that on March 18th of this year, XM Radio successfully launched the first of two geo-stationary satellites, “XM Rock.” (The second one is to be called “XM Roll.”) With many car audio manufacturers on board for XM Radio reception, it’s expected that by this summer we’ll by ready to Rock and Roll on XM Radio.

Sirius Radio service already has three satellites in orbit, and they’re currently working on their studios and programming. This is no small task given the huge list of programming. Transmissions are also slated to begin broadcasting by the end of this coming summer.

The new CFO at Sirius, John Scelfo, formerly of Dell, just announced that Panasonic will be the first hardware manufacturer to make the receiver modules which contain the circuitry required to receive the satellite data. There will be roughly 20,000 units to hit the market in the fourth quarter of 2001. Some of these receiver modules will be designed around discrete, “off the shelf” components. These first receiver modules will be 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches in size whereas the Agere (a Lucent spin-off) units to be delivered in 2002, will be 5 x 4 x 1.5 inches in size. These receiver modules will interface all the “plug and play” decks that are “Sirius Satellite Ready.” There will also be another receiver module design that will permit Sirius satellite reception on any car audio deck with an existing AM/FM antenna. These units will interface just like an FM modulator on an aftermarket changer.

I talked with Scott Stull, broadcast manager at iBiquity Digital, and he said that they’re currently working with both OEM and aftermarket manufacturers such as Kenwood, Visteon, Harmon-Kardon, Alpine, Fujitsu, Recoton, Sanyo, and Mitsubishi. Stull continues, “The early digital receivers will be the ‘add-on’ type, but, eventually, the circuitry will be reduced in size so that it can be contained within the deck itself.”

By the end of 2001, iBiquity Digital’s transmission side will be in place and commercial stations will begin broadcasting in selected areas. The largest market stations will be at the top of the list. Stull mentioned that aftermarket receivers would be launched at CES in 2003.

What To Expect
XM Radio is offering consumers a choice of up to 100 different radio channels for a monthly fee of $9.95 for the basic service. Planned programming includes music, news, talk, sports, entertainment, and children’s programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Also planned are a number of commercial-free music channels. XM Radio will have limited advertising channels that are slated to carry less than half of the advertising of traditional AM or FM stations. The company has attracted a large group of investors, including Motient (formerly American Mobile), General Motors, DirectTV, and Clear Channel Communications — as well as a group of financial investors. Radio Shack also recently signed an agreement to support XM Radio. Programming will include content from a number of providers, including: USA Today, BBC World Service, PBS’S News Hour with Jim Lehrer, Bloomberg News Radio, CNN News Group, NASCAR, One-on-One Sports, CNN/Sports Illustrated, Black Entertainment Television, Radio One, ASIAONE, Salem Communications, The Weather Channel, Johnathan Schwartz, Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation, C-SPAN and more.

Sirius Radio will directly broadcast 50 channels of commercial-free music and up to 50 channels of news, sports, and entertainment, for a monthly subscription fee of $9.95. Adapter boxes to convert existing head units to Sirius digital radio reception will soon be available to electronic retailers. The retail cost of the adapters will be between $199 and $499. Content providers for Sirius Radio include A&E Television, BBC, Bloomberg Radio Networks, C-SPAN, Car Talk, CNBC, Comedy World, Discovery Radio, Live Broadway, NPR, OLN Adventure TV, Playbill, PRI, Radio Spirits, SciFi, Speedivision, Sports Online USA, The Kennedy Center, National Symphony Orchestra, The Weather Channel, Wisdom Radio, WRN and more.

iBiquity Digital’s audio compression technology, called PAC, is currently being used in other wireless applications, such as XM Radio’s system (SDARS). This system works like MP3 compression, and we all know how successful MP3 is for car audio. Their iDAB technology makes the AM and FM broadcasts free of the static, hiss, pops, and fades common to analog reception. The future calls for in-vehicle and home digital radios along with PDAs and smart phones powered with digital information from iBiquity Digital. Wireless content providers at this time include Accuweather and the Associated Press.

How Can You Be Digital Radio Ready?
At this time, many aftermarket manufacturers are offering head units with “Digital Satellite Ready” features. This means that by this summer, the new decks will be receiving satellite program material from either XM Radio or Sirius Radio — provided that the “add-on” receiver and antenna is purchased and connected to the deck. As far as the deck is concerned, receiving digital broadcasts will be like adding a changer. The remote control and display will automatically function for the new format. Installation time should be under one hour, and initial prices are projected to be in the $200+ range.

XM Satellite Radio will be included in the latest generation 3-band AM/FM/XM radios from aftermarket manufacturers such as Alpine, Pioneer and Sony. As for OEM decks, Delphi Delco, Alpine, Pioneer, Clarion, Audiovox, and Motorola will provide factory-installed AM/FM/XM radios to the automobile industry. This summer, these OEM satellite-receiving decks will be in selected vehicles from GM, Saab, Cadillac, Honda, Isuzu, Suzuki, Buick, GMC, Saturn, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Chevy Trucks, Freightliner, and Hyundai.

Sirius Satellite Radio is currently working with the following manufacturers of receivers: Kenwood, Visteon, Sony, Sanyo, Pioneer, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Jensen, Delphi, Ford Motor Company, Daimler Chrysler, Clarion, Audiovox, and Alpine. Sirius also has alliances to install 3-band (AM/FM/SAT) radios in Ford, Chrysler, BMW, Mercedes, Mazda, Jaguar, and Volvo vehicles as well as Freightliner and Sterling heavy trucks.

The Digital Difference
Although the new digital radio formats haven’t started yet, anyone purchasing a new aftermarket deck should consider getting the “Satellite Radio Ready” option. This optional feature does not add to the cost of the deck, and will add 100 or more digital channels to your car stereo system.